Japanese Drug Makers Step Up R&D To Substitute For Patent Loss
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Japanese drug makers facing patent expiration on some of their blockbuster drugs in the next two to three years are stepping up their research and development to find potential replacements. Takeda Pharmaceutical and Eisai are expected to be hit especially hard in the sales area as they lose patent protection for their top drugs in 2011 and 2010, respectively. Astellas Pharma is an example of the impact of losing that protection. It foresees a 6 percent drop in the sales of its Prograf (tacrolimus) this year as a result of losing its patent on March 31. (Click here for more - a subscription may be required